Conceptual Model of the Pollution Balance of the Russian Sector of the Caspian Sea on the Example of Lead

Abstract

The aim is to validate the balance method for obtaining background concentration values by the example of lead content in the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea. Materials and methods. The information base for the study was open data from Russian state structures, as well as archived data from the Caspian Marine Research Center of Roshydromet. The obtained values of concentrations were converted to weight units and summed up by "input-output" to obtain a balance value. Results and Discussion. In total, with all sources, about 6,000 tons of lead enters the Russian sector annually, and the content in all components of the marine environment is 629,000 tons. The removal of dissolved lead from the volume of the Russian sector is estimated at the level of 3.6-15.4 thousand tons. At the same time, establishment of equilibrium will be observed when concentration of dissolved forms of lead at the boundaries of the Russian sector decreases to 16.4 μg/l. Conclusions. The results indicate a decrease in the content of lead in the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea, which is indirectly confirmed by the results of industrial monitoring of oil companies operating in the water area of the Russian sector.